Mississippi State defensive back Johthan Banks won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.

Written by

The Mississippi State cornerbacks are used to walking into stadiums filled with more than 90,000 opposing fans and trying to shut down the other team's best wide receivers. That wasn't always the easiest job, given the many talented receivers who play in the Southeastern Conference.

But that pressure has nothing on what the pair will experience today and Friday. All either has to do is sit back, watch some television and monitor their cell phones, but the stakes are huge. ...